Grate-damper



(No Model.)

M. J. ROBBINS.

GRATE DAMPER.

.No. 451,774. Patented May 5,1891.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILO J. ROBBINS, OF FORT PAYNE, ALABAMA.

GRATE-DAM PER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,774, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed January 28, 1891. Serial No. 378,829. (No model.)

To (oZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, MILO J. ROBBINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Payne, in the county of De Kalb and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Grate-Damper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to open fire places or grates, and more especially to the dampers for regulating the burning of the fires therein.

The object of the invention is to provide means for more accurately'regulating the setting of such dampers, whereby fire-places of this character will be prevented from smoking or throwing off gas, and wherebya greater amount of heat than heretofore will be thrown into the room.

To this end the invention consists of the details of construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated on the sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure l is a front elevation of a fire-place embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the damper and the upper endof a slightly-different fire-place, the former being shown closed in full lines and open in dotted lines.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter G designates in the present instance a grate located within an openfire-place, preferably constructed of brick about as shown and having a fire-back F, by which the heat is thrown forward into the room. Above the upper end of this fire-back is the usual arch A, and P represents the plate, which is secured, as by lips L, to the sides of the arch or forms the ornamental front of the fire-place. Projecting rearwardly from this plate above the fireback F and beneath the arch A is a slotted ear E, in which is removably inserted the top plate T, as best seen in Fig. 3. This plate stands directly above the fire and causes the products of combustion which rise against the front face of the fire-back F to take a tortuous course over the upper end of said fireback F and thence up the chimney O,-all as is well illustrated in the several views of the drawings.

At the rear edge of the plate T are bearings B,'in which are mounted the journals J of a damper D, which is of such width that itwill reach from said plate downwardly to and rest upon the fire-back F, as seen in full lines in Fig. 3. Projecting upwardly from the pivotal edge of said damper and preferably at about right angles to the damper itself is a short arm M, having an eye I in its upper end, which is loosely engaged by a hook H at the rear end of a rod B. This rod extends loosely through an opening 0 in the plate P, and is provided with screw-threads S at its front end, upon which threads turns a threaded knob K, resting against the ornamental work of the plate P.

In operation a fire is built in the grate in the usual manner, and the heat ascending along the face of the fire-back F is thrown forward into the room. Thence the products of combustion strike the top plate T, pass rearwardly over the upper end of the fireback F, and turn and pass up the chimney O. This tortuous course retards to a certain extent the upward passage of the heat, and hence causes it to be to a greater extent thrown out into the room. The damperD is arranged at the point shown and pivoted at its front edge to the rear edge of the plate T. By this arrangement when the damper is lowered so as to rest upon the upper end of the fire-back F the fine is completely closed, except the cracks around the damper, which will permit sufficient draft to carry off the products of combustion from a steadily burning or smoldering fire; but when the fire is first lighted,

or when it is desired either that the tire shall.

burn more vigorously or that less heat shall be thrown into the room, the damper D is s'o'adjusted (as shown by dotted lines or to any position between the full and dotted lines) that the passage of the products of combustion shall be retarded or restricted to just a sufficient degree. This adjustmentis effected by turning the knob K upon the screw-threads S,whereby the rod R is moved backwardly or forwardly, and its link-connection with the upper end of the arm M causes the damper to move in a manner which will be obvious. The hookshaped bearings B are preferably arranged at the ends of the plate T, and when it is de sired to remove the damper, as for cleaning or repair, it is bodily raised until its journals J are lifted out of the bearings B and the eye I at the upper end of the arm M is disengaged from the hook at the rear end of the rod R, and the entire damper and its arm can be moved to the rear, and then withdrawn from the fire-place beneath the plate T. The latter can be removed when desired by moving it rearwardly out of the slotted ears E, and then drawing it downwardly and forwardly out of the fire-place; but the Weight of the damper when in place Will hold the top plate in its correct position Without the necessity for the use of other devices for this purpose.

I do not confine myself to the exact proportion of parts illustrated, nor to the use of any particular materials.

What is claimed as new is 1. The herein-described damper, the same comprising a damper-plate D, having journals J mounted in bearings, an arm M, projecting from the pivotal edge of said damper at an angle to the latter and having an eye at its extremity, a rod R, having a hook at one end engaging said eye and a screw-thread S at its other end, and a knob K, screwing onto said threaded end and bearing against a stationary portion of the heater, substantially as described.

2. In an open fire-place, the combination, with the grate G, the fire-back F, the plate P, arranged in front of the fire-place and having the slotted ears E, and the top plate T, re-

movably inserted in saidslotted ears and having the open-topped bearings 13 at its rear edge standing above the upper end of said fire-back, of a damper D, having journals J resting in said bearings, the free edge of said damper normally resting upon the upper end of the fire-back, an arm M, projecting from the pivotal edge of said damper at an angle to the latter, and a rod R, connected to the extremity of said arm and leading through an opening 0 in the plate P, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MILO J. ROBBINS.

Witnesses:

GHAs. M. T. SAWYER, EUGENE THOMAS. 

